new to P&O

I am not new to cruising but to Pand O . Because ti is going to offer aGuadelcanal for a 10 day cruise that also hits Rabaul and Gizo. ( I could care less about the other ports) and sails out of Cairns not Sydney or Brisbane which is way cheaper to get to from the USA than Sydney

The ship will sail in September 2016 and I am having trouble getting a quote for price for a single supplement as I am sailing alone on the Eden a former Holland America Statendam. .

Is September big for school holidays? hoping to miss kids and many families.

I have sent numerous e-mails but get no response to P&O...no response

Is P& O booking somehow different than in the USA ?

It seems the are offering cabins shared with 2 or 4 berths... is this correct with no hint of singles

I also see they are doing away with buffets...and assume all food will be in the Main dining room or in some stupid pay extra place.. Is this correct.

The last thing I WANT IS FIXED DINING to sit by myself

Help any advise

Any

Queensland schools have two weeks' holiday in late September into October, but I don't think a cruise to New Guinea would attract a lot of children. P&O limit the number of children who can be booked onto their ships to a set number in each age group. You would hardly see them on board because they would be occupied in the kids' clubs - probably the best on the high seas.

Cabins are all two or four-berth, but there are always quite a number of people travelling alone. P&O charge a single supplement. I believe it is either 180% or 200% for higher category cabins. I haven't travelled as a solo and am going on information from friends who have.

Don't worry about the abolition of the buffet. It is simply the re-arrangement of the buffet into stations. Whether it is better or worse is a matter of opinion. I can assure you that Aussies are very friendly and if you want to join people at a table in the buffet, or in the MDR, people will happily talk to you.

For booking or to have questions answered - We can't mention TA's names on here. If you 'google' "cruise travel agents Australia" you will get the names of several travel agents. In Australia there are around six or eight companies that specialising in cruising. Many operate mainly on line.

You will find that in the Main Dining Room you will be offered a table of your choice, i.e. for 2 or for 6 - 8 etc. Never a problem. You will have to remember that we are a very informal bunch and you will have no trouble meeting and mingling with a great cross section. Some are characters, bushies, rednecks and miners, accountants and nurses - all good interesting stuff. We went New Guinea last year and was very good cruise. Children are very well controlled during the holiday cruises but every second passenger seemed to be schoolteachers - LOL

Queensland schools have two weeks' holiday in late September into October, but I don't think a cruise to New Guinea would attract a lot of children. P&O limit the number of children who can be booked onto their ships to a set number in each age group. You would hardly see them on board because they would be occupied in the kids' clubs - probably the best on the high seas.

 

Cabins are all two or four-berth, but there are always quite a number of people travelling alone. P&O charge a single supplement. I believe it is either 180% or 200% for higher category cabins. I haven't travelled as a solo and am going on information from friends who have.

 

Don't worry about the abolition of the buffet. It is simply the re-arrangement of the buffet into stations. Whether it is better or worse is a matter of opinion. I can assure you that Aussies are very friendly and if you want to join people at a table in the buffet, or in the MDR, people will happily talk to you.

 

For booking or to have questions answered - We can't mention TA's names on here. If you 'google' "cruise travel agents Australia" you will get the names of several travel agents. In Australia there are around six or eight companies that specialising in cruising. Many operate mainly on line.

Thanks.. because I cant get any response from P&O..is only possible to book through a Australian agency? Or can I book from the US with my agent...?

I have been to Australia on vacation and business many times and know culture and the folks. So its not wanting t0 mingle

Aside from that I just plain don't like eating in the dining room for 2 hours and would rather grab a bowl of salad and soup in shorts..

As this will be a short focused trip I don't want to pack for evening dress.up.

Thanks.. because I cant get any response from P&O..is only possible to book through a Australian agency? Or can I book from the US with my agent...?

You should be able to book through the P&O call centre. However, any Australian travel agent should also be able to book for you - just search through TAs that suit the way you prefer to book.

One other thing that will be a bit different, just so you know. It's pretty normal to have a small credit credit card surcharge added e.g. 1.5%. Sometimes, some TAs don't charge that so that may be a factor in your search.

You won't be able to book through a US TA.

Thanks.. because I cant get any response from P&O..is only possible to book through a Australian agency? Or can I book from the US with my agent...?

 

I have been to Australia on vacation and business many times and know culture and the folks. So its not wanting t0 mingle

 

Aside from that I just plain don't like eating in the dining room for 2 hours and would rather grab a bowl of salad and soup in shorts..

As this will be a short focused trip I don't want to pack for evening dress.up.

without naming TA's up the top of the page under Deals is some sponsers of the site

You should be able to book through the P&O call centre. However, any Australian travel agent should also be able to book for you - just search through TAs that suit the way you prefer to book.

 

One other thing that will be a bit different, just so you know. It's pretty normal to have a small credit credit card surcharge added e.g. 1.5%. Sometimes, some TAs don't charge that so that may be a factor in your search.

 

You won't be able to book through a US TA.

Thanks for the direct scoop on OZ booking... In the US its not legal to charge extra for a credit card. I way prefer to book through my long term agent because he gives me a huge price cut and a very generous rebate (10%+) on my bookings.

I will see what the boys in OZ can do..... do they deal?

As an option Princess has an identical cruise 6 months earlier and I can book Princess through the USA......

Id prefer the P&O RT from Cairns rather than Brisbane because I fly direct the morning of the cruise and return the day after the cruise with no hassle or layover.... Sailing out of Brisbane would cost $600-700 in extra transportation charges to get from Cairns to Brisbane and back plus hotel.

I am locked into Cairns because I get free business tickets rt from LAX.... and there is constant availability as compared to Sydney.

Thanks for the direct scoop on OZ booking... In the US its not legal to charge extra for a credit card. I way prefer to book through my long term agent because he gives me a huge price cut and a very generous rebate (10%+) on my bookings.

 

I will see what the boys in OZ can do..... do they deal?

 

As an option Princess has an identical cruise 6 months earlier and I can book Princess through the USA......

 

Id prefer the P&O RT from Cairns rather than Brisbane because I fly direct the morning of the cruise and return the day after the cruise with no hassle or layover.... Sailing out of Brisbane would cost $600-700 in extra transportation charges to get from Cairns to Brisbane and back plus hotel.

I am locked into Cairns because I get free business tickets rt from LAX.... and there is constant availability as compared to Sydney.

some OZ TA's dont charge for CC fees, there's one there that has a low deposit but they want final payment 8-9 months out.....it works for some people as they dont have to outlay a big deposit

Thanks for the direct scoop on OZ booking... In the US its not legal to charge extra for a credit card. I way prefer to book through my long term agent because he gives me a huge price cut and a very generous rebate (10%+) on my bookings.

 

I will see what the boys in OZ can do..... do they deal?

Not for one-off situations. As mentioned, there are slightly different offers/pricing between TAs but the info should be on each site. Contacting them individually won't get anything different from what they advertise. Offers do spring up occasionally like in the US though, e.g. extra OBC through some TAs.

For a new P&O cruiser, you're more likely to get some promo with a TA than direct with P&O.

As an option Princess has an identical cruise 6 months earlier and I can book Princess through the USA......

Yes, local Princess cruises are sold through the same global system as other Princess cruises.

Not for one-off situations. As mentioned, there are slightly different offers/pricing between TAs but the info should be on each site. Contacting them individually won't get anything different from what they advertise. Offers do spring up occasionally like in the US though, e.g. extra OBC through some TAs.

 

For a new P&O cruiser, you're more likely to get some promo with a TA than direct with P&O.

 

 

 

Yes, local Princess cruises are sold through the same global system as other Princess cruises.

ThANKS.... I was able to book a 14 day on Princess that goes to all my desired ports and then some... in Jan rather then P&O in Sept...... the kicker was that the princess cruise was $40 a day cheaper, and that my agent here in the US can book all in USD.... that's some $500 cheaper to take a longer cruise than the shorter one !!! That's crazy good deal

At the end of the Princess cruise I will be in Brisbane at the end and plan to take the tilt train to Cairns rather than fly.. so it works out and I get a 2 day train ride and see some more of OZ on the ground...

Always good when you find something that fits better.

Just for future reference, In your first post you mentioned " a single supplement", on P&O Australia , they have done away with the single supplement and for 1 person traveling in a twin cabin they charge you 100% for first person fare plus 60% of second person fare for that twin cabin , which if you get a last minute deal is not bad, this is current from last week when I was on the Pacific pearl and making a deposit with the on board future cruises salesman .